In response to media enquiries on cases of Hong Kong residents stranded in Peru, a Government spokesman said today (March 29) that the Security Bureau and the Immigration Department (ImmD) have been liaising closely with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (OCMFA), the Chinese Embassy in the Republic of Peru (Chinese Embassy in Peru), the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC), relevant travel agencies and airlines to keep abreast of the situation there and take follow-up actions.

As at noon today, the ImmD has received a total of 86 assistance requests from Hong Kong residents stranded in Peru, including more than 30 group tour members. Five of those who sought assistance have left Peru already through other arrangements.

For the Hong Kong residents remaining there, as Peru has declared a state of emergency and imposed strict restrictions on all land and air traffic, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has contacted the Chinese Embassy in Peru and a number of airlines to make every effort to secure flight bookings or arrange a flight for the return of the stranded Hong Kong residents, and make necessary applications to the local authorities. Among the Hong Kong residents there, some are in different places in Peru. They would have to take domestic flights or other land transports to go to Lima, Peru’s capital, to facilitate arrangement of their departure collectively by an international flight from Lima out of Peru. The HKSAR Government is actively following up on the matter and once the relevant arrangement has been worked out, it will notify the Hong Kong residents concerned of the latest flight information at the earliest possible.

As notified by the Chinese Embassy in Peru, one of the Hong Kong residents passed away the day before from COVID-19 infection. Upon receipt of the notification, the ImmD has immediately contacted the family of the deceased and provided advice and assistance as appropriate having regard to their wishes. The ImmD will continue to work with the Chinese Embassy in Peru to provide assistance to them.

Separately, the HKSAR Government has continued to closely follow up on the Hong Kong residents stranded in Morocco, and maintain close liaison with the OCMFA, the Chinese Embassy in the Kingdom of Morocco (Chinese Embassy in Morocco), the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in China, the TIC, relevant travel agencies and airlines. The ImmD has received assistance requests from 150 Hong Kong residents concerning the home passage from Morocco. Among them, 70 are from group tours. To assist the Hong Kong residents to return to Hong Kong, the HKSAR Government has been taking actions on multiple fronts, including seeking information from the Moroccan authorities about the operation of commercial flights in Morocco through the Office of the Government of the HKSAR of the People’s Republic of China in Beijing and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in China. It has also been actively liaising with a number of airlines to secure flight bookings for the affected Hong Kong residents to fly out of Morocco to destinations at which they could transit back to Hong Kong.

As at noon today, 113 Hong Kong residents have either already returned Hong Kong by different flights, or have secured return arrangements. For the 37 Hong Kong residents remaining in Morocco, they are mainly in the cities of Casablanca and Marrakesh. The HKSAR Government is actively following up with the Chinese embassy in Morocco and a number of airlines to make every effort to secure flight bookings or arrange a flight for the return of the stranded Hong Kong residents. It will notify the Hong Kong residents concerned of the latest flight information at the earliest possible.

Hong Kong residents travelling outside Hong Kong who need assistance may call the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the Immigration Department at (852) 1868.